Although its days are now numbered, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat is truly one of the most popular fighters of modern times. Made famous in film of
the nineteen eighties such as "Top Gun" and "The Final Countdown", the F-Fourteen has been the backbone of U.S. Navy carrier squadrons for more than 30 years and has had a chequered career involving many highs and
lows. The fascination, which surrounds the F-Fourteen, be it brute power or its marvellous elegance help disguise this machines awesome lethality. We didn’t use this aircraft as our logo without reason and as such its de
-activation will not only hit the pilots and crewmembers quite hard, but also us. NAS Oceana has been the final bastion for the Tomcat for many years now - indeed as it has for many naval carrier based squadrons. Even the
name of the main road at this enormous Naval Air Station reflects this, for example “Tomcat Boulevard”. Transition of most units to the more modern Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet should be completed by the end
of 2005, as the last of Grumman‘s legendary cats are to be retired by August 2006, ending an era that many recall with fond nostalgia. As such, this year’s NAS Oceana Airshow was probably the last opportunity to see
the Tomcat in any large numbers, especially as a flying display.
The model 303 developed by the Grumman Ironworks, later to become the F-14, actually owes its existence to the failure of another design, the F
-111B, which proved too heavy and too expensive for carrier use. Some of the innovations of the F-111B developed by General Dynamics were used in the F-14, for example the progressive pin system of the variable geometry
wings and the TF-30 turbofan engines. The latter would present the biggest problem and represent an Achilles' heel of the A version. A progressive radar and weapon control system (Hughes AN/AWG-9)
together with the most modern guided weapon system of its time, the Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix, gave the Tomcat an enormous technological advantage compared to all of its potential opponents. While the F-14 was
no lightweight with its maximum takeoff weight of 32,800 kg, it was nevertheless a very agile machine.
U.S. Navy squadrons received their first Tomcats in 1973, a relatively short period following the first test flight of the prototype YF-14 which took place
on 21st December 1970. Following its introduction into service with the fleet, the Tomcat was deployed operationally for the first time in May 1975, providing escort protection for the evacuation of Saigon. From the
beginning, the Tomcat served within carrier units of the U. S. Navy as an air superiority fighter. The only export customer was Iran, at the time still an ally of the United States. The delivery of 79 A-models just before the
Iranian revolution in 1979 created many problems for the U S Government, although these machines probably spent more time on the ground that in the air due to spare parts availability. The employment of the Tomcat was
not very eventful in the first Gulf War (in comparison to F-117, F-15 or Tornado) with the F-14 accounting for not a single kill and attracting some unwarranted criticism. However, as the Tomcat carried out its purpose
built role of fleet defence and because no attacks by Iraqi combat aircraft were made on ships of the U. S. Navy, there was really nothing to criticise. A plan to replace the existing fleet of F-14/B and D with a Super
Tomcat was cancelled in favour of the F/A-18 Super Hornet bringing to a end within the next few months the history of this remarkable machine. The Tomcat is the last fighter of a long line of "Grumman Cats" that
justified the legendary reputation of this company which all started with the F-4F Wildcat.
The era where one combat aircraft was designed for a specific purpose has long pasted. Today, multi-functionality is in demand more than ever. The
first step in this direction was highlighted by the introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet, which replaced three very different aircraft: the A-4 Skyhawk, the F-4 Phantom II and the A-7 Corsair II. The F-14 Tomcat also had to take over
additional tasks in the course of its career, for example as replacement for the RA-5C Vigilante in the recognisance role. The newest addition to the U. S. Navy, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, will replace the F-14 and additionally
the A-6 Intruder (which has been out of service for the past few years). Even though the Super Hornet is outwardly very similar to a regular F/A-18, it is nevertheless a completely new aircraft combining the agility of the
Hornet with a substantially increased range and weapon load. The Super Hornet is about one fifth larger than its little brother (with a 25% larger wing area) and can carry an additional 1,630 kg of internal fuel.
Together with its more efficient General Electric FE 414-GE-400 turbofans and almost 9000 litres of external fuel tanks the Super Hornet achieves a 40% longer range when compared with the standard model Hornet.
A planned EW (Electronic Warfare) variant, the EA-18G, is to replace the Grumman EA-6 Prowler as well.
The cost to develop the Super Hornet was within the estimated project funds of $4.88 billion USD with the entire project running relatively trouble
free. Delivery of the first machine to the U. S. Navy on 18th December 1998 (one month ahead of schedule!) also went very smoothly with everything working precisely as planned, something not many other development
projects can claim. Changing specifications resulting in cost blowouts and late deliveries have accompanied most aeroplane development programs in the last 30 years, however the Boeing Corporation impressively negated
this. Up until today more than 200 machines have been delivered, there are plans to purchase a total of 548 Super Hornets up to the year 2010. The Boeing F/A-18 E/F/G Super Hornet represents a huge milestone for the U. S.
Navy and sets new standards with reduced maintenance costs through the use of modern components and design features, an increased power spectrum, improved economy through more efficient engine
technologies and obviously a greatly reduced work load for the pilot all set this machine apart from the rest. For many aeroplane enthusiasts the introduction of the new Super Hornet and the associated retirement of
the F-14 Tomcat is difficult to take although not unexpected, but even so the F-14’s replacement is still just another version of the well-known Hornet. The elegant lines of the Tomcat will be missed much like the howl
of an F-104 Starfighter or the raw power of the F-4F Phantom II. However, combat aircraft are not procured and kept in the service for well being of aeroplane enthusiasts, nevertheless we will miss the powerful and elegant Tomcat very much!
Robert Kysela, managing editor
Release 1.0/2010
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Release 1.0/2010
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